Laurie Santos on Americans and the Pursuit of Happiness

Is there anything about our happiness Is there anything about our happiness that you think is uniquely American? that you think is uniquely American? that you think is uniquely American? >> Oh, for sure. I mean, we're such weirdos >> Oh, for sure. I mean, we're such weirdos >> Oh, for sure. I mean, we're such weirdos when it comes [laughter] to happiness. I when it comes [laughter] to happiness. I when it comes [laughter] to happiness. I mean, we we're really into happiness, mean, we we're really into happiness, mean, we we're really into happiness, first of all. Um, you know, we care a first of all. Um, you know, we care a first of all. Um, you know, we care a lot about it, and that means that we lot about it, and that means that we lot about it, and that means that we tend to have more of that paradox of tend to have more of that paradox of tend to have more of that paradox of pursuing happiness that we talked about pursuing happiness that we talked about pursuing happiness that we talked about before. This idea that when you go for before. This idea that when you go for before. This idea that when you go for happiness, happiness, happiness, uh, you the more you go for happiness, uh, you the more you go for happiness, uh, you the more you go for happiness, the more unlikely you are to get it. the more unlikely you are to get it. the more unlikely you are to get it. Um, and this is one of the things I find Um, and this is one of the things I find Um, and this is one of the things I find most fascinating about Iris Mauss's most fascinating about Iris Mauss's most fascinating about Iris Mauss's research. She's actually she's she works research. She's actually she's she works research. She's actually she's she works at UC Berkeley, but she's a German. And at UC Berkeley, but she's a German. And at UC Berkeley, but she's a German. And I think one of the things that drew her I think one of the things that drew her I think one of the things that drew her to this work is that she, you know, to this work is that she, you know, to this work is that she, you know, she'll claim that like Germans have just she'll claim that like Germans have just she'll claim that like Germans have just like a different relationship with the like a different relationship with the like a different relationship with the pursuit of happiness than Americans do. pursuit of happiness than Americans do. pursuit of happiness than Americans do. And there's some data on this, you know, And there's some data on this, you know, And there's some data on this, you know, there's studies that have analyzed, for there's studies that have analyzed, for there's studies that have analyzed, for example, like uh, condolences cards in example, like uh, condolences cards in example, like uh, condolences cards in Germany and other parts of Europe and Germany and other parts of Europe and Germany and other parts of Europe and the US. And what they find is that, you the US. And what they find is that, you the US. And what they find is that, you know, all of them mention grief and know, all of them mention grief and know, all of them mention grief and something, but like the German cards something, but like the German cards something, but like the German cards stop there. They're like, you know, in stop there. They're like, you know, in stop there. They're like, you know, in deepest sadness or something. Whereas deepest sadness or something. Whereas deepest sadness or something. Whereas the American greeting cards are kind of the American greeting cards are kind of the American greeting cards are kind of like, but, you know, silver lining, like, but, you know, silver lining, like, but, you know, silver lining, they're in a better place, or something.

they're in a better place, or something. they're in a better place, or something. And she's like, the German cards just And she's like, the German cards just And she's like, the German cards just stop it. What is like somebody died, and stop it. What is like somebody died, and stop it. What is like somebody died, and you're sad. Just like be cool with it. you're sad. Just like be cool with it. you're sad. Just like be cool with it. So, I think Americans are kind of So, I think Americans are kind of So, I think Americans are kind of weirdos when it comes with happiness. weirdos when it comes with happiness. weirdos when it comes with happiness. We're also also focused on like We're also also focused on like We're also also focused on like optimizing, right? And and this feels optimizing, right? And and this feels optimizing, right? And and this feels like very right now. This feels very Tik like very right now. This feels very Tik like very right now. This feels very Tik Tok, but you know, this is something Tok, but you know, this is something Tok, but you know, this is something again Americans were thinking about for again Americans were thinking about for again Americans were thinking about for a long time, right? Like rewind to the a long time, right? Like rewind to the a long time, right? Like rewind to the early 19th century, and you have early 19th century, and you have early 19th century, and you have scholars like Alexis de Tocqueville, scholars like Alexis de Tocqueville, scholars like Alexis de Tocqueville, right? Who's this French scholar who right? Who's this French scholar who right? Who's this French scholar who came over to the US as like this came over to the US as like this came over to the US as like this anthropological experiment. Like, what's anthropological experiment. Like, what's anthropological experiment. Like, what's going on with the new country? And what going on with the new country? And what going on with the new country? And what he remarked about was that like he remarked about was that like he remarked about was that like Americans weren't just constantly Americans weren't just constantly Americans weren't just constantly pursuing happiness, but they were like pursuing happiness, but they were like pursuing happiness, but they were like never satisfied with it, right? He he never satisfied with it, right? He he never satisfied with it, right? He he had this phrase or something like they had this phrase or something like they had this phrase or something like they they, you know, Americans would like they, you know, Americans would like they, you know, Americans would like make a house, and before they're even make a house, and before they're even make a house, and before they're even done making a house, they'll start done making a house, they'll start done making a house, they'll start making a new house, cuz they really want making a new house, cuz they really want making a new house, cuz they really want to like make sure it's even better than to like make sure it's even better than to like make sure it's even better than it was before. And I think it was just it was before. And I think it was just it was before. And I think it was just this like kind of obsession with going this like kind of obsession with going this like kind of obsession with going after stuff and optimizing that was after stuff and optimizing that was after stuff and optimizing that was there even back then. And my guess is there even back then. And my guess is there even back then. And my guess is you know if he took full took full you know if he took full took full you know if he took full took full showed up today and took a look around showed up today and took a look around showed up today and took a look around he'd be like, "Oh man, this is even he'd be like, "Oh man, this is even he'd be like, "Oh man, this is even worse now."